Pile burning resumes west of Bend this week

Deschutes National Forest fuels specialists plan to ignite about 85 acres of slash piles along Cascade Lakes Highway near Wanoga and Swampy Lakes sno-parks, the Cascade Lakes Welcome Station, and along Skyliners Road near Phil’s Trailhead, beginning as early as Wednesday.

Ignitions are expected to take place for the rest of the week, officials said Monday

Smoke from the piles will likely be visible from Bend and could last into next week.

Officials ask you to please not report smoke from these slash piles. Fuels specialists will continue to monitor piles until they are declared out.

Pile burning continues in other areas across the forest, including outside Sisters near Tollgate subdivision and Skyline Forest, as well as the west side of the Deschutes River near Forest Road and more remote areas of the forest.

Fuels specialists follow policies outlined in the Oregon Department of Forestry smoke management plan, which governs prescribed fires (including pile burning) and attempts to minimize impacts to visibility and public health.

For more information, visit the Deschutes website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/deschutes and follow the on Twitter @CentralORFire.